Track sander



W. H. WHIT Feb. 11, 193s.

TRACK SANDER Filed Feb. 8, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 11,1936.

w H. wHrrE TRACK SANDER Filed Feb. a, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE TRACK SANDER 4William H. White, Roanoke, Va., assigner to 4 Morris B. Brewster Co. Inc., Chicago, Ill. 2

Application February 8, 19314, Serial No.v '110,257

7 Claims.

'I'he invention relates generally to track sandl ers or sanding apparatus for locomotives and like vehicles. More particularly the invention relates l to that type of track sanding apparatus which is controlled from the cab of the locomotive and comprises an elongated, horizontally extending casing which has an upwardly extending inlet duct for sand at one end thereof anda downwardly extending outlet duct at its'other end and' of sand from the interior when the nozzle is rem moved for repair or replacement purposes.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a track sanding apparatus of the type under consideration in which the casing embodies a pair of serially connected passages for delivering fluid under pressure through the outlet duct for cleaning purposes and these, passages are formed in a member which is formedintegrally with, and as a part of, the lower portion of the discharge end or the casing. I

Another object oi' the invention is to provide a track sanding apparatus of the type and character hereunder consideration in which the outlet end of the casing embodies integral means forming a pocket for permitting a portion oi" the sand in the casing to pack therein and to form a surface for 'deiiecting the moving sand in the casing into the outlet duct. v

A further object of the invention is to provide a track sanding apparatus which includes a novel automatic valve for eiecting supply of fluid under pressure to the cleaning passages during the initial ow .of fluid' under pressure to the nomic.

Astill furtherobject of the invention is to pro- `vide a'track sanding apparatus which includes a novel control device for the uid for sanding and cleaning.

In addition it is contemplated as one of the objects of the invention to provide a track sanding apparatus which is generally of new and improved ccnstructlon and is extremely emcient in operation.

.Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present Y track sanding apparatus will appear from a con- 55 Aaider-ation of the following detailed description.

,In the drawings which accompany and v.form a part of the present speciiication or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts' throughout'the several views: Figure 1 is asectional view of asanding apparatus 5 embodying` the invention. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 31s a perspective of the supplemental valve oi the controlling device. Fig. is a section illustrating a modiiied form of the invention.

'Ihe track sanding apparatus which forms the subject of the inventionis adapted for use with l a locomotive and comprises an elongated, horlzontally extending casing 6. The latter is pro- Y vided at one end with an inlet duct 9 which is`15 connected to a pipe 5 bymeansof a nipple 1 and union 8. This pipe 5 leads from the usual sand box on the top of the boiler of the locomotive Vto the casing 6v and serves to deliver sand into a ltrap conduit III in the casing. Adjacent the Iother end of the casing, an obliquely or downwardly extending outlet duct Il is formed and a discharge pipe I2 is connected to this duct and extends to the point adjacent the rail where .the sand is to be delivered. A housing lI3 is formed 25 integrally with the casing and .extends inwardly from the wall of the casing 6 which closes the inlet end of the casing. This housing projects into the `trap conduit I0 and has a duct Il through which iiuid under pressure is discharged into said conduit I0 to force the sand from the casing through the outlet duct II and the discharge pipe I 2V. A nozzle comprises a. pipe I5* which extends into the duct I4 and a nipple I5 in which the pipe is xedly secured. 'I'he nipple I5 is screw- 35 threaded into the wall of the casing 6 and is connected to a pipe I8 by means oi' a nipple I'I and coupling 16. 'I'his nipple I5 is formed with a rey stricted orice for delivering a Jet of uid under pressure into the trap conduit. 'I'he iiuid under 40 pressure is supplied to the pipe I8 as hereinafter set iorth. The housing I3 projects into the trap conduit of the`c`asing a sufficient extent so that when the pipe and nipple parts of the nozzle are removed for cleaning or replacement, the sand in the trap chamber will not iiow out of the casing i through the duct I4.. A cleaning plug Illn -is threaded into the casing 6 below'the housing I3 and a cleaning plug I0b is threaded into the casing above said housing. These plugs, when re-` moved, permit any materlalwhich' clogs the casing to be removed when necessary.

A pocket I 0 is formed in the discharge end oi' the casing 6 opposite the point of the delivery Y oi the fluid by the nozzle. This pocket, as indi- Bussum* fffcated at Ind,

the blast from thehn'ozzle and the sand carried will befpacked with sand so that thereby, will be impacted against the sand packed in the pocket and deflected downwardly to the discharge pipe I2 withoutgsubjecting to wear .the cross wall at the discharge end of the casing 6.

A horizontal passage I9 extends inwardly from 'the discharge end of the casing 6 and joins an oblique passage 20. These two passages serve to discharge fluid for cleaning the discharge pipe stantially parallel with the discharge pipe I2,"

the ow of the cleaning iiuidl does not cross or retard the stream of sandand the uid usedi for forcing the sand in its passage to the discharge pipe.

A device for automatically controlling the delivery of iiuid to the pipe 2| comprises a casing 25 in the lower portion of which a valve 26 is slidably mounted. 'I'his valve is normally closed by a spring 21 and is adapted to clos'e against a seat 26. A pipe 29 deliversiluid under pressure from a reservoir to the chamber below the valve so that when said valve is' open, the uid will pass to the pipe 2l and thence to the cleaning passages I9 and 26. `In practice, it is desired to-control automaticallythe ow of iluid to the cleaning passages so that the uid will be delivered into the discharge pipe I2 for a limited v period to clear the pipe at the beginning of each cylinder.

' vaive 33.

sanding operation. For this purpose, a cylinder 30 is formed in the upper portion of casing 25 and a piston 3l is slidably tted insaid cylinder. This piston hasa stem 32 .which is guided in the lower portion o! the casing 25 and is adapted to abut against the upper end of the stem of the valve 26 to open ,saidyalve A pipe 24 which is connected to a control device in the cab of the locomotive, as hereinafter set forth, is adapted to deliver fluid under pressure to the upper -end of the cylinder 39 and above the piston 3I so that the upper end of said piston will be exposed to the pressure of uid in the top of the Pipe I6 which leads to the sanding nozzle is also connected to the upper end of the cylinder 3I'I.A The capacity of the pipe 24 issomewhat greater .than that of the pipe I6 so that a differential pressure will'be created in the upper end of the cylinder to cause the piston to be slowly forced downwardly to open thevalve 26 at the beginning of each sanding operation.- As the ow of fluid continues through the upper end of the cylinder 43I!,'the piston will be gradually forced downward. The lower end of the stem 32 of the piston 3l is provided witha valve 33 which is adapted to t against a seat 34 between the pipes-2l and 29. As a result, after a limited period' of sanding, the supply of uid through pipe 2I to the cleaning duct will be automatically cut off by the pressure-operated When the supply of 'uid 'under pressure through vpipe 24 is discontinued, lthe spring 2-1 will lift valves 26, 33 and piston 3i to cut -oif lthe supply of lluid tothe cleaning duct at the valve 26. This automatic'means for controlling the iiuid'forcleaning exempliiies one assigned position.

which is included in the pipe line between the control device in the cab and the sanding nozzle so that a single pipe line serves to deliver iiuid under pressure to the sanding nozzle and to control automatically the fluid for controlling the valve for the cleaning line. f

The improved control device comprises a casing 36 which may, duplicate devices for controlling two sanding devices from a single control lever althoughitnis to be understood that it is adapted for use withva single sanding device. The lower portion of the casing 36 is provided with a chamber 31 to which fluid under pressure is delivered by a pipe 23 from the usual supply reservoir. A valve 36 is slidably mounted in the casing and adapted to close against a seat 39. A spring .40 holds valve 38 normally closed. The casing has formed in its upper portion above the valve seat, a cylindrical extension 4I into one side of which the pipe 24 for delivering uid to the sander is connected. A hollow supplemental valve 42 with a closed top is slidably tted in the cylinder 4I. Valve 36 is provided with a stem 43 which extends upwardly to the top wall of the valve 42 sol that the valve 36 will be shifted downwardly when the supplemental valve is shifted. An e88- shaped opening 44 is formed in one side of the valve 42 which, when said valve is shifted downwardly, will move into registry with the pipe 24. Froml its lower end the opening 44 is of gradually and progressively increasing width so that the volume of the fluid permitted to pass through pipe 24 may be accurately controlled and regulated or graduated by the extent of movement of the valve 42. As a result, when the valve 44 is shiftedy downwardly, valve 38 which permits a free flow of iluid will be initially opened and the position of the opening 44 in valve 42,4 accord- A lever 45 is pivoted at 46 to an upwardly exf tending lug 41 on the casing 36 and a notched quadrant 46 is formed on said lug. The lever 43 is provided with a spring-pressed locking finger 49 which is adaptedto hold the lever 45 in its arm 50 which is adapted to engage a plunger 5I Lever 45 is provided with an ii desired, be provided with f lgroove 52 in valve 42, to prevent rotation ofthe which extends through a packing box on the top of thecasing 36 to shift the supplemental valve 44 and the valve 38. The valves 36 and 42 are duplicated to control two sandingl devices through shifting of the lever to one side or the other o! its neutral position. By shift of the lever 45, the extent of moving the supplemental valve 42 may be varied to a'nicety to control the volume of iiuid to the sander to deliver the desired amount of sand to the track. The area which is exposed to the pressure of the nuld from the pipe 24 is sumcient -to insure the operation of the valves 28 and 33 of the device for cleaning the discharge pipe maximum volumetric iiow of the iluid to the sand- I2, under the minimum or ing nozzlethrough` pipe I8.- i

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Figure 4 a pipe 24 leads from the control device in the cab to theupper end of a casing 26 and a pipe I8 leads from said casing to the sanding nozzle.- The lower end of casing 26 is screwthreaded into the casing iia which contains the trap conduit IIi. A duct 20%, axially aligned with the discharge pipe I2, is 'adapted to deliver iluid of the piston 33 l cleaning duct 20a. A by-pass duct 60 is formed in the casing 2lia and' extends around the piston 3P'. In the operation of this device the initial delivery of uid to pipe 2lia from the controlling device in the cab will exert pressure on the upper end of the piston 3|, and the iiuid will ilow through by-pass 60 around the piston and through duct 29a to the duct 20. As the pressure builds up in the top of the casing 2lia the piston will move downwardly and cause the valve 21 to `close on Ythe seat 28a and automatically discontinue the supply of iiuid to the cleaning ducts. This valve will remain closed thereafter until 4the control device is set to discontinue the sanding operation. The spring 28 will then lift piston 3|a and valve 2"a until the control device is again set to operate the sander. This construction exemplies one in which the automatically controlled device for cleaning the fluid is located in the pipe line between the control device in the cab and the sandernozzle and the iiuid for cleaning the discharge pipe is also supplied through the single pipe line from the cab.

'I'he invention is not to be understood as restricted to the particular details set forth, since these may be modied'within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope oi' the invention.

conduit between the two ducts, a horizontal'nozzle extending through and secured removably in said one end'of the casing and connected to receive uid under'pressure and to direct the fluid longitudinally through the trap conduit-in order to force through the outlet duct-the sand delivered into the casing via the inlet duct, and a horizontal housing around the lnozzle projecting inwardly into the trap' conduit from said one end of the casing and designed to prevent sand from escaping from the casing when the nozzle is removed,

2. In sanding apparatus of the character described, the combination of an elongated, horizontally extending casing provided with an upward- 1y extending inlet duct for sand at one end thereof, a downwardly extending outlet duct at its other end and a longitudinally extending trap-conduit between the two ducts, 'a horizontal nozzle extending through and removably secured in said one end of the casing and connected to receive `fluid under pressure and to diect the fluid horizontally v through the trap conduit in order to force through the outlet duct the sand delivered into the casing via the inlet duct, and a housing around and completely encasing the nozzle `formed integrally with and projecting inwardly lfrom said one end of the casing and designed toprevent sand from escaping from moved. 1 I

3. In sanding apparatus ofthe character described, the combination` of an elongated, horithe casing when thenozzle is rewardly extending inlet for sand at one end thereof, a downwardly extending outlet duct at its other lendand a longitudinally extending trapvconduit between the two ducts, a horizontal n'ozzle extending through and removably secured in said one end ofthe casing and connected to rezontally extending-casing provided with an upceive fluid under pressure and to direct the iluid longitudinally through the trap conduit in order to force through the outlet duct the. sand delivered into the casing via the inlet duct,a. housing around. the nozzle formed `integrally with and projecting inwardly from said one end of the casing and designed to prevent sand from escaping i'rom the casing when thenozzle is removed, and a removable clean-out beneath the nozzle. v

4. In sanding apparatus of the character described, th`e combination of an elongated,'hori zontally extending casing provided with an inlet duct for sand at one end, thereof, a downwardlyl extending outlet duct land an end wall outwardly plug in the casing of the outlet duct at its other end, and a longi y tudinally extending trap-conduit between the two ducts, a discharge pipe connected to said outlet duct, a nozzle at said one end of thecasing for discharging iluid under pressure into the trap-conduit to force sand through the outlet duct, and means for cleaning the discharge pipe with fluid under pressure comprising a member formed integrally with, and as a part of, the lower portion of said other end of the casing and disposed wholly within the upper end oi' the outlet duct and having a horizontal inlet passage for the uid leading through the cross wall and a discharge passage leading downwardly from the inner end of the inlet passage for discharging the uid through said'dis'charge pipe.

' 5. In sanding apparatus of the character described, the combination of an elongated, horizontally extending casing', provided .with an inlet duct for sand, a downwardly extending outlet duct and a cross wall outwardly of the outlet duct at its other end, and a longitudinally extending .trap-conduit between the two ducts, a discharge pipe connected to said outlet duct, a nozzle at said one end of the casing for discharging fluid under pressure into the trap conduit to force' sand through the outlet duct, and means for cleaning the discharge pipe with fluid under pressure comprising a member. form integrally with, and as a part of, the lower rtion of said other end of the casing and having a horizontal inlet passage for the iiuid leading through a a portion o1' the sand in the casing to' pack therein and to deflect into the outlet duct the sand moved by the iluid under pressure from the nozzle.

6. In sanding apparatus of the character described, the combination of a casing having an inlet duct for sand, an outlet duct for sand,I and a trap-conduit between the inlet and outlet ducts,

a nozzle in the casing for discharging iluid into the trap-conduit to force sand through the outlet duct, a discharge pipe for conducting. the sand from said outlet duct to the point of. use, a passage in the `casing for delivering uid to clean the discharge pipe. a remote control device. convnected to receive iluid under pressure from a valve i'or controlling the flow of fluid through the casing outlet. a piston in the casing for shifting the valve into its closed position when uid passes through the casing in /transit from the control devices ol the nozzle, and a by-pass for uid in the valve casing, for delivering fluid to the casing outlet for delivery to the cleaning passage when the valve is open.

v'7. In sanding apparatus of the character described, the combination of a casing having an inlet,duct for sand, an .outlet duct for sand, and a trap-conduit between the inlet and the outlet duct, a nozzle in the casinglor discharging fluid under pressure into the trap-conduit to force sand through the outletduct, and a device for controlling the delivery of fluid to said nozzle comprising a casing provided with a chamber connected to receive iluid under pressure from a 5 source of supply and also provided with an extension having a bore with one end thereof lead- `ing to the chamber and a lateral outletv at its other end connected to deliver iluid to the nozzle.

a valve at said .one end of the bore for controlling 10 the ow of fluid from the valve to the outlet, a hollow sleeve-type valve through which the iiuid ows from the first mentioned valve to the outlet. said sleeve-type valve belngvslidably mounted in.

the bore and spaced from said ilrst mentioned 15 valve and having 'a side opening with one end thereof wider than the other adapted in response to shift of the sleeve-type lvalve to control ,the amount or volume of iiuid flowing through the sleeve-type valve to the outlet, and means for ,o

condointly opening and closing the two valves.

. WILLIAM H. WHITE. 

